Introduction
The Americans have been proud regarding the relationship of their military sector and the civilians throughout the history. One of the major reasons why United States takes pride to this relationship is the subordination of the military sector to the authority of the civilians. The military-civil relationship in the United States is based on the doctrine about the civilian control over the military. This doctrine states that the control over the strategic plans and decision-making processes which could generally affect the whole nation should be in the hands of the civilian leaders and not the military leaders. It has been a major determinant or factor for the success of liberal democracy in the United States.
However, this success is considered by several experts as at risk due to the potential crisis regarding the military-civil relationship in the United States. The best manifestation of this crisis is the increasing gap between the military and the civilians. This gap could be recognized in numerous forms as argued by several experts in the field in political and military science. According to these experts, the main cause of the widening of the gap between the military and the civilians is the end of the conscription and the end of the Cold War. Although the tension between the military and the civilians became silent after the 9/11 terrorists attacks, these issues remains and intensified some of the associated problems within the society (Ricks, 2015).
The issue of the crisis between the military and civilian relationship is important since it could affect the effectiveness of the military sector in responding to security challenges. It is also important since it could also affect the notion or doctrine of civilian control over the military. The objective of this essay is to analyze the main manifestation of the crisis regarding the military-civilian relations, the causes of this crisis and the severity of the problem. It also opts to discuss several resolutions on how the society ensures the civilian control over the military while they respond to security challenges in the modern times.
Background on Military-Civilian Relations
In order to evaluate the manifestations of the issues regarding the relationship of the military and the civilians, definition of sources should be considered. Military-civilian relations could be referred to as the relationship of the military sector of the state and the society or community in which they serve. This relationship could be manifested through the interaction and communication of both sides. It could also be manifested through the perspective of both sides with each other (Ricks, 2015). The military-civilian relation in the United States is governed by a doctrine in which civilian authorities have control over the armed forces.
Manifestation of the Crisis Regarding Military-Civilian Relations
The main manifestation of the crisis regarding the military-civilian relations is the growing gap between the military sector and the civilians. According to Rahbek-Clemmensen et al. (2012), the gap between the military-civilian relations could be recognized in four major types.
First is the cultural gap between the armed forces and the civilians. In the modern times, it could be recognize that the values and behavior of the military sector differs from the civilians. The values and attitudes of the civilians are based on the principles of individualism and pursuit for pleasure. On the other hand, the values and attitudes of the military sector are based on discipline and unity. This cultural gap could be the cause of their lack of understanding with each other.
Another manifestation of the military-civilian gap is the demographic gap. Demographic gap refers to the idea that the military sector does not demographically represent the population of the United States. There are extremely small numbers of economic and social elites of the nation while most of the armed forces are from rural areas. Most of the new recruits in the military sectors are relatives of veterans. Racial minorities are also overrepresented in the armed forces.
The third manifestation of the military-civilian relations gap is the policy preference gap. According to Rahbek-Clemmensen et al. (2012), civilians prefer policies which involve minimal engagement in the international conflict while the military sector prefers full engagement in order to respond to security challenges.
The last manifestation is the institutional gap. It refers to the emerging conflict between the civilian leaders and the military leaders. It could be recognized in the modern times as numerous anti-military protests are on-going. In general, the military-civilian relations are at risk due to the widening of the gap.
Causes of the Gap of Military-Civilian Relations
The widening of the gap between the military sector and the civilians are viewed by experts as a cause of the changing during the peace time. According to Stuart (2013), one of the main factors which led to the widening of the gap between the military sector and the civilians is the end of the conscription era. Conscription is the mandatory enlistment of the civilians in the army which was commonly implemented during war periods. In this method, many civilians enter the military sector and the understanding of the civilians in the armed forces are maintained or kept at high level. With the ending of the conscription, interaction of the civilians and the armed forces also lessens.
Another main factor or cause of the widening of the gap between the military sector and the civilians is the ending of the Cold War. Most of the civilians in the modern times have no interests in armed forces or the activities of the military sector many of them consider this period of time as a period of peace. However, tensions between the civilians and the military sector also emerged as a result of the end of the Cold War. The United States has been keeping large and strong armed forces even after the Cold War. This could result to the increase in anti-military protests from the civilian sides.
Another main factor which could result to the increasing gap of military-civilian relations is the increasing complexity of the concept of national security. After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the United States has faced a new form of enemy (Hooker, N.d.). This results to an increase in the engagement of international conflicts in the modern times. Debates have emerged whether the United States should act as a respond to these terrorist attacks. Some people support the war on terror while the others have different notion or view about protecting national security. This may cause an increase tension with the civilian and the military side and could result to the widening of the gap between their relationships.
Severity, Effects and Implications of the Gap of Military-Civilian Relations
The increasing gap between the military sector and the civilians could result to serious problems within the society. One of the main impacts of this phenomenon is the decreasing effectiveness of the military sector. The armed forces acquire strength and number from the acceptance and support of the civilians or the people they serve. Without their support, military activities would not be possible. The increasing gap between the armed forces and the civilians could result to the decrease in strength of the military sector as only few people are interested in joining the military. In addition, the effectiveness of the military operations is at risk without the support of the civilian leaders or the politicians.
Another implication of the widening of the gap between the military sector and the civilians is the eroding notion of the civilian control over the military. When tensions between the civilians and the military are developed as a cause of the widening of their gap, civilians may not acquire the assurance that they could use their authority over the military sector. It could result to coups and the establishment of new states (Hooker, N.d.). The widening of the gap reduces the civilian’s ability to control, regulate and maintain the effectiveness of the military operations and activities. In general, the lack of understanding between the civilians and the military could endanger the civilian control over the armed forces.
Ensuring Civilian Control over the Military While Responding to Security Challenges
Many experts argue that solving the crisis about the military-civilian relations is to establish a new policy on military activities and operations. However, one could recognize that the solution to this problem requires the participation of both parties. In the side of the military sector, efforts should be made in order to provide social and academic opportunities for civilian-military interaction. It could be in the form of providing military service program in schools such as enhancing the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC). It could also be in the form of social opportunities such as establishment of events participated by both civilians and the military personnel.
In addition to the military efforts, participation from the civilians is also a necessary strategy in order to decrease or mitigate the problems associated to the widening of the gap of the military-civilian relations. The civilians must provide a clear claim of their true interests and intentions regarding the issue of national security. In addition, civilian leaders must also have a clear claim of their true expectations on the armed forces and their activities. In general, in order to ensure that the civilians have control over the military sector while ensuring the challenges in the national security, two processes must be established. First is that the military sector should provide a means of reaching the civilians through academic and social opportunities. On the other hand, civilians must provide a clear expectation of the armed forces and their activities.
Conclusion
The military-civil relationship in the United States is based on the doctrine about the civilian control over the military. However, this notion could be at risk due to the emerging crisis regarding the military-civilian relations. Military-civilian relations could be referred to as the relationship of the military sector of the state and the society or community in which they serve. The main manifestation of the crisis regarding the military-civilian relations is the growing gap between the military sector and the civilians. It could be recognized in four major types which include cultural gap, demographic gap, policy preference gap and institutional gap. In general, the military-civilian relations are at risk due to the widening of these gaps. The widening of the gap between the military sector and the civilians could be due to the end of conscription, the end of the Cold War and the increasing complexity of the concept of national security. One of the main impacts of this phenomenon is the decreasing effectiveness of the military sector. Ensuring that the civilians have control over the military sector while responding to the challenges in the national security requires both participation and commitment of the military sector and the civilians.
References
Hooker, R. (N.d.). Soldiers of the State: Reconsidering American Civil-Military Relations. Parameters. Retrieved from http://strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pubs/parameters/articles/03winter/hooker.pdf.
Rahbek-Clemmensen, J., Archer, E., Barr, J., Belkin, A., Guerrero, M., Hall, C., & Swain, K. (2012). Conceptualizing the Civil–Military Gap: A Research Note. Armed Forces & Society, 38(4):669-678.
Ricks, T. (2015). The Widening Gap Between Military and Society. The Atlantic. Retrieved from https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1997/07/the-widening-gap-between-military-and-society/306158/.
Stuart, D. (2013). Civil-Military Relations In the U.S: What Needs to be Done?. E-International Relations. Retrieved from http://www.e-ir.info/2013/09/13/civil-military-relations-in-the-u-s-what-needs-to-be-done/.
